Prestwich Local Area Partnership Meeting this week, at 6.30pm, Thursday 12th November, Heaton Park Primary School.

Prestwich Local Area Partnership will showcase Prestwich Winter Wonderland which kicks of on Sunday 22 November with a bumper Prestwich Christmas Farmers Market and Christmas Lights Switch On at The Longfield Shopping Centre with not only top Coronation Street Star Katherine Kelly (Becky) to switch on the lights.

There will be lots of family entertainment to enjoy this splendid day with top local entertainment, Dave K, a Town Cryer, Besses o’th Barn Brass Band, Pop Star Academy, Prestwich Arts College Choir, Sweeky the Clown and Santa’s Grottos of course. Prestwich Library have pulled its own cracker for the visitors at the Farmers Market to drop in with their children to enjoy Carnival of the Animals Story time and mask-making 11am-12 for children under aged 10 and under in Prestwich Children’s Library and a FREE prize draw for a big cuddly blue teddy bear. (Please contact the library to book your place), a chance for children to write your letters to Santa and post them in the post-box at the Santa Grotto, Local History Displays – with Craig Brisbane, Guitar Class & Art Society Demonstrations and a one off Computer Taster Session – ‘Shop till you Don’t Drop!’ teaching shoppers how to online shop from the comfort of your home 11-1pm. There’s even a chance to pop in and see Prestwich Hospital Exhibition. What a Cracker!

Chair of Prestwich LAP Cllr Vic D’Albert said “We put out the message to the Prestwich Community that’d we would highlight any Winter Events and in LovePrestwich Winter Wonderland What’s On Guide was born. I promise you that LovePrestwich Winter Wonderland What’s On Guide will have something for everyone for all ages and faiths so don’t miss this chance to get a sneak preview. I am delighted that we’ll will celebrate the first Prestwich Community Carol Service at St Mary’s Parish Church on Monday 21 December followed by a reception at Church Lane Community Centre. As well as Christmas we celebrate Chanukah, Fast of Tevet, Eid-Ul-Adha, Al-Hijira (Islamic New Year) and National Holcocaust Memorial Day which has particular importance to our Prestwich Community. Prestwich has had a wonderful year this year having enjoyed a wonderful LovePrestwich Festival and to finish with a LovePrestwich Winter Wonderland is the icing on the cake.”

Other reports at this months meeting will include The Local Development Framework, The Big Clean and Police Report.
To download papers click this link

Last thursday was an unofficial leaving do for me at work. I start a new job on the 16th. I therefore went for a swift half with some colleagues, but as we were all driving we quickly scooted off, and I went straight to the meeting organised by Vic D’Albert, to which the Council leader, Bacup Bob Bibby was invited to answer questions from the public.

Bob was blabbing on when I arrived, apparently he’d been doing so for 15 minutes, after he’d already announce he could only stay for 45mins. He had several more pages of speech to go, so Vic cut him dead and asked him to do what he’d promised, and answer some questions from the public, instead of wasting more time. Bob was gutted, but couldn’t really say no (it’s a tactic the Tories use frequently to reduce the number of questions they receive - particularly Jack Walton at Full Council - a complaint is going in on that one, Jack!).

Vic, local MP Ivan Lewis, and lots of the public asked him specific questions which he invariably wouldn’t answer straight. I asked for the figurs that I’d asked for 2 weeks ago, but had still not received. He promised I could have them, so we’ll wait & see! I can’t divulge them to you, but I can ask a whole lot of questions about them.

Ivan asked for a non-partisan approach to the Save Longfield campaign. I agree the sentiment, but as someone like Ivan has rather thin support on the ground round here, that kind of thing may only assist his publicity machine, and not recognise the hard work done by LibDems, so I remain to be convinced, but it’s not my fight, it belongs to the people whom I reperesent. They can decide on that…

Cllr. Bibby insisted that no decision had yet been taken, but as there is no open list of options available to choose from, that is simply wrong (some would consider it a “lie”!)

A youth dance troupe who practice there gave a performance of the kind of thing they do (Class Act - very good!), at which point Bacup Bob scuttled off to an emergency Tory group meeting, probably to decide who’s turn it was next to look like a complete numpty in front of the public.

The meeting carried on with people demanding action, and it concluded with Vic asking for volunteers for an “action committee” to decide on a plan of attack.

It’s shaping up for a bun-fight, and I don’t think Bacup Bob has a stong throwing arm!

More information on the planning application here (Manchester City Council). (Search under Higher Blackley Ward.)

Download the plans here and here.

Heaton Park Plans Resubmitted

I used to sit on the Heaton Park Mgt Committee, but it was a pretty pointless activity, as the park managers did whatever they wanted, despite protestations from the users. At the time, I was a football team club secretary, and they never asked us what would be best, simply kept reducing the size of the pitches because some of the schoolkids who regularly used the pitches weren’t fit enough to play as proper “wingers”. Anyway, back up to date:

Goals Soccer Centres have re-submitted their plans for a commercial soccer centre in the St Margaret’s Road area of Heaton Park this week.

These plans will now be subject to public consultation, with an expected date at Manchester Council’s Planning Committee on 17 December 2009.

The plans have been resubmitted despite significant opposition from local residents, heritage watchdogs and many users of the park.

The new plans see a slightly reduced scheme of THIRTEEN soccer pitches, SIX tennis courts and a climbing wall area. There are 40 car parking spaces and Club House.

Over the next week we’ll be giving you more information on how to campaign against the proposals - this will be our last chance to SAVE HEATON PARK!

More information on the planning application here (Manchester City Council). (Search under Higher Blackley Ward.)

Download the plans here and here.

We ask lots of questions of the ruling group. Sadly, they don’t have the oomph to actually answer them themselves, but rely upon answers from Council Officers, as follows:

Answers to Questions

Posted November 4, 2009

Here are the written answers to questions asked by the Lib Dem Group to Full Council last week. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you require any further information.

Suggested answer to written Question 1 submitted by Councillor O’Hanlon

Q The Council is considering changing the use of the Longfield Suite in Prestwich, whilst proposing to retain the Elizabethan Suite in Bury and Ramsbottom Civic Hall.

Why is this the case when the Council’s own figures show that the Longfield Suite is better utilised and makes more money than the Elizabethan Suite and Ramsbottom Civic Hall?

Can the Leader of the Council assure me of the Council’s commitment to provide a civic hall for Prestwich which allows community groups to use a dedicated public events space and which provides a hub for local community activities?

A I would like to thank Cllr O’Hanlon for his question

First of all I would like to remind all members that no decisions have been taken regarding the future of any of these venues, despite some member’s best efforts to whip up public anxiety and anger.

A task and finish group will look at all four venues with a view to finding the most viable and sustainable solution for local communities and the Council. Commitments have already been given by the Leader that there will be extensive consultation with any interested groups, individuals and the Local Area Partnership and their views on alternative use for the Longfield Suite be reported back as part of the Group’s final report.

Suggested answer to written Question number 3 submitted by Councillor Baum

Q At the last meeting of the Council I asked for a progress update on my proposal to allow free parking after 3pm in Bury Town Centre, after a similar scheme boosted trade and Council coffers in Rochdale. Cllr Gunther replied saying that the Council “will continue to look at initiatives wherever they are and assess the value for Bury, taking into consideration the potential impact on the business community as well as the Council’s financial position.”

What are the outcomes of the assessment of “Park free after 3″ for Bury, what is her assessment of the potential impacts for the business community and the Council’s financial position of the scheme, what are the comparative costs / benefits of “Park Free After 3″ compared to “Park Free for 15 minutes,” and when will my scheme be introduced?

A The potential impact on the Councils financial position is likely to increase the parking budget deficit. The anticipated deficit from the on-street “15 minutes free parking” scheme alone is likely to be in excess of £80k. There would also be the additional costs of setting up the scheme such as legal costs, signing, machine software changes etc.
Given the financial constraints of the Council there are no plans to change the current arrangements which are very satisfsactory.

Suggested answer to written Question number 5 submitted by Councillor Pickstone

Q Goals Soccer Centres Ltd seem likely to be submitting an amended application for a commercial soccer centre in open piece of parkland adjacent to the Bury MBC border in Holyrood Ward. Is the Leader of the Council aware of the serious heritage concerns raised by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Garden Heritage Society and others around the destruction of part of this historic piece of parkland?

Were the Authority aware of these objections when making its own comments to Manchester Council’s original application?

A The application is wholly within the area controlled by Manchester City Council and as such it is for them to assess the acceptability of the Planning Application and any concerns over the application should be sent to Manchester City Council, as per the advice to all local councillors in an email from the Planning Department on the 29th June 2009.
The Council is not party to the replies to consultations received by Manchester City Council, and was not aware of any comments that the City had received when it made its comments.

The Planning Control Committee considered what impact the application would have on the nearby residents in terms of noise and light pollution and the impact on the highways network.

The assessment on the impact of the Listed Park is a matter for Manchester City Council and English Heritage and we are not part of this assessment.

On a point of information, it is understood that whilst English Heritage did not support the application, it did state that it had no objections in principal to the development of sports facilities and made various recommendations for amendments to the scheme.

A joint meeting has been held between English Heritage, Manchester City Council and the applicant to discuss these recommendations and a revised scheme is awaited by Manchester Planning Department.

The Council will be informed of the revised scheme when it is received.

Suggested answer to written Question number 7 submitted by Councillor Andrew Garner

Q Council recycling facilities at Tesco Prestwich have recently been closed. Does the Leader agree with me that this is a backward step for recycling in the borough, and that a reduction in recycling sites without a commensurate increase in collection from the remaining sites will result in fly-tipping?

Have alternative sites and increases in collections been considered? If so, what are the plans and when will they be introduced?

A The decision by Tesco to withdraw this facility was unfortunate but the decision was taken following persistent large scale fly tipping of waste at the site which it proved impossible to control. This was despite a range of preventative measures being employed such as signage, CCTV, regular cleaning of the site and speaking to users of the facility.
There is nothing to suggest that the closure of this recycling centre will result in an increase in fly tipped recyclable waste. That sort of waste does not typically get fly tipped.

There are a network of recycling centres across the borough, the nearest to Tesco’s being the Longfield Centre which has the full complement of recycling banks. Furthermore the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Clifton Road, Prestwich has recently been refurbished and its recycling facilities improved.

Furthermore, all Bury residents living within the vicinity of Tesco’s have access to kerbside collections of paper and card, plastic bottles, cans and glass and so should have little need for a recycling centre in any case.

Suggested answer to written Question 9 submitted by Councillor V D’Albert

Q Could the leader confirm how much is left in this year’s Council budget for Disability Grants for Building adaptations for the current year?
A Private Sector Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG’s), budget, expenditure to date and remaining budget 2009/10
Budget £1,107,000
Expenditure to 22.10.09 £418,713
Remaining Budget £688,287

Suggested answer to written Question number 11 submitted by Councillor Baum

Q Bury Market is one of the jewels in Bury’s crown, and the best market in the country. I have spoken to many traders who are struggling through the recession, and who trade at different sites but would prefer to trade in Bury more often. Has any thought been given to opening the market fully on more than three days per week, helping traders and boosting visitor numbers to Bury?

A Traditional market days at Bury Market are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Bury Market Hall is open six days a week and Bury Fish and Meat Hall five and a half days a week.

The Open market comprises 212 daily licence stalls and 82 leasehold units who trade on the three established market days. In addition to these market days, Daily licence traders have the opportunity to trade on the open market on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Open market leasehold traders can, if they wish, trade for seven days a week.

However, traders make their own judgment as to whether it is commercially viable to open or not outside of the established market days. The vast majority of traders choose not to open.

Traders are represented by two trader organisations - Bury Market Traders Association (BMTA) and Bury Open Market Traders Association (BOMTA). Markets Management have ongoing dialogue with the trader organisations and have requested they consider Sunday opening in light of Town Centre developments. Feedback to Markets Management is that traders have expressed concerns and are reluctant to open on Sundays. Further consultation regarding Sunday opening is to be undertaken with the Trader Organisations.

Suggested answer to written Question number 13 submitted by Councillor S Wright

Q Can the leader inform us of the total amount spent on taxi fares by the council in the last four years, split down by department?

A I am happy to send round a full analysis of taxi costs by service but for brevity tonight I thought that it might be more helpful to provide the total costs for the last four years, which are

2006/07 £959,546

2007/08 £1,039,983

2008/09 £1,067,548

2009/10 £479,306

Of these costs 99% relate to the provision of transport to people with specific needs within Adult social care, Children’s social care and schools.

I can assure Members that Taxi services are procured following a full tendering exercise and I can also assure Members that the way in which transport is provided to vulnerable people is subject to on-going review to ensure that their needs are met in the most efficient and effective way.

Suggested answer to written Question number 15 submitted by Councillor Steve Wright

Q Has the council given any consideration to allowing sole traders permission to use council-run household waste recycling centres in an attempt to ease problems like flytipping?
A This is a decision for the GMWDA who operate such facilities.
Having said that, the GMWDA, through its contractor Viridor, do provide outlets for commercial waste at some of its other facilities. E.g. when the Transfer Loading Station at Every Street, Fernhill reopens in January traders will be able to dispose of their waste there, subject to a minimum half tonne charge.

Suggested answer to written Question number 17 submitted by Councillor Ann Garner

Q Can the Leader confirm the number & location of all the public waste bins in Bury, the collection rotas for each, and the plans for the future of such waste bins?
A There are currently 728 public waste bins situated across the borough which are emptied on different days of the week at different frequencies, depending on location. A full list detailing the location and collection rotas for each bin can be passed to Cllr Garner.

Requests for new bins are considered on an individual basis, taking into account several criteria, for example

location e.g. on a school route, near shops, fast food outlets etc
feedback received from residents and the Street Care Teams
numbers of bins already within the locality
whether any additional funding or sponsorship is available from tenants and residents groups or LAPs
whether there is any potential obstruction to the footpath.

Suggested answer to written Question number 19 submitted by Councillor Davison

Q Given that 25% of PCN’s are cancelled for one reason or another, can the Leader confirm whether we are attaining “best value” from our current enforcement providers (NCP); when their contract is due for review; and what figures/circumstances would he consider appropriate for an immediate review of such provision?

A A vast majority of the 25% cancellations are based on the Council’s customer care policies and not NSL Ltds performance. In fact less than 1% of cancellations are for Civil Enforcement Officer errors and therefore we are attaining “best value” from NSL Ltd.

The current Enforcement Contract with NSL Ltd is for 5 years with w.e.f. from 31st March 2008 and expires 30th March 2013.

As the mis-understandings of the Annual Report, and the following apologies in the Bury Times regarding the cancellation reasons are not related to the performance of NSL Ltd, I do not consider an immediate view of their enforcement provision is required.
Suggested answer to written Question 21 submitted by Councillor M D’Albert

Q Can the Leader explain what assistance this Council has given to groups wishing to set up Credit Unions in the last year?

A In the last year the Council has not received any requests for groups wishing to establish Credit Unions. At our annual Community Conference this year our lead third sector partnership agency – B3SDA sought the views of the third sector around the possibility of setting up a Credit Union in Bury. However, neither the Council nor B3SDA have been approached by any group seeking support in this respect.

Credit unions are financial co-operatives, linked to a specific body by a “common bond” (eg group of employees, trade union members, residents of a specific area etc).

Many existing credit unions are expanding their common bonds, if a credit union is required by the people of Bury, it would be sensible to first speak to the Bolton credit union (“quids in”). The Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) can advise on initiatives happening in an area, or put residents in contact with the relevant bodies.

Setting up a credit union can take up to three years and simple step-by step guidance is available from the ABCUL – the LA’s role here should be to put residents in contact with the correct regulatory body. Credit unions also have to register with the FSA.

Suggested answer to written Question 23 submitted by Councillor Ann Garner

Q Can the Leader explain what negotiations, when and with whom he or members of his Executive Team have undertaken with neighbouring authorities on resolving issues relating to social housing schemes that we share with our neighbouring authorities?

A We are not aware of any negotiations that have taken place with regards to resolving issues relating to social housing schemes that we share with neighbouring authorities.

However, officers from Strategic Housing in Bury are currently commencing work with officers from Salford and Manchester Councils and housing associations in order to seek to meet the needs of the Jewish community in these boroughs. As yet, this work is at a very early stage.

Bury is also involved with other authorities in Greater Manchester in the sub-regional choice based lettings scheme. However, this is simply an initiative to give applicants greater mobility and does not involve sharing any social housing schemes with neighbouring authorities.